2005 Recap

Yet another year in the books, and yet another action packed 365 days for sports fans. Another Sox curse has been broken, UNC basketball is a shadow of the team that brought home the NCAA title in April, and you probably wouldn't know it but the NHL is back in session. Terrell Owens and the Eagles are far from the dominant NFC champion they were a year ago, the Pats "dynasty" appears on the brink, and Notre Dame and Penn State football have finally returned to their respective places in the Bowl Championship Series. Pat Riley and Phil Jackson are back on the sidelines with the Christmas matchup between the Heat and the Lakers reminiscent of the Bulls and the Knicks circa 1993. Baseball saw a first ballot Hall of Fame lock have his greatest moment only to piss it away with a positive steroid test weeks later. Since, 500 HR / 3,000 hit club member and Viagra spokesman Rafael Palmerio has become the laughing stock of Major League Baseball and the punchline to countless jokes. Baseball has since come up with a serious steroid testing policy addressing a problem it turned a blind eye to during the late 90s surge of the 60+ homer season. One offseason later, the once champion Red Sox look anything but familiar and the Evil Yankee Empire has turned yet another former beloved Sawx star to the Dark Side. Peyton Manning and the Colts chased the '72 Dolphins and their infamous modesty only to be stopped short by a San Diego team that will go down as one of the best in NFL history to miss the playoffs. Hurricane Katrinia destroyed a sports mecca in New Orleans former home to the NCAA Final Four and the Super Bowl not to mention the Saints and Hornets. Right on the other side of the ball drop USC will show if it can '3-Pete' and the Irish and Nittany Lions will try to prove they're back for good with bowl game victories. Peyton's first Ring is so close he can smell it, but likely not before he goes through Brady and the Pats one last time. Here's to 2006.